phelps



(No Mod e1-) L. J PHELPS.

APPARATUS "FOR MAINTAINING ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION WITH MOVING VEHICLES. No. 329,077. Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

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LUOIUS J. PHELPS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,077, dated October 27 1885.

7 Application filed February 20, 1885. Serial No. 156,500. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUOIUS J. PHELrs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Maintaining Electrical Communication with Moving Vehicles or Objects, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention relates to systems or appara tus for communicating with moving vehicles, after a mannerdescribed in my prior patents and applications for patents, and consisting essentially, in the employment of a line-con-- ductor parallel with the path over which the vehicle moves, and constituting one element of an induction apparatus, the other element of which latter is upon the vehicle, and moves in continued inductive relation or proximity to the lineconductor.

My present invention relates more especially to such a system of maintaining electrical connection with a moving vehicle when applied to railways; and its object is to provide a means whereby a constant inductive relation between the apparatus on the vehicle or car and the line-conductor may be main tained over draw-bridges, as well as at other portions of the line, and whereby at the same time, in case a draw-bridge be open, a substitute connection may be established, so as to permit electric communication to be inductively maintained at other portions of the railway.

My invention consists in the combination, with the main circuit or conductors carried across the draw-bridge, of a branch circuit through a cable which is normally open when the draw-bridge is closed, and a switch for establishing the circuit of the line-conductor through said branch when the draw-bridge is open.

My invention consists, further, in producing the desired changes of circuit automatically by the operation of opening and closing the draw-bridge.

The figure represents, in perspective view,an arrangement of apparatus whereby my invention may be carried into effect.

A indicates the line or induction circuit, situated between the rails of a railway, and

Any switch appliances may be used for ef fecting the desired changes of circuit, either automatically or by hand.

A switch apparatus by which automatic changing of the circuit may be brought about is illustrated in the drawing, and consists, essentially, of a switch made after the manner of a telegraphic springjack switch.

0 0 indicate the two springs of the switch that normally have a bias which tends to keep themtogether. The springs are connected one with the conductor A and the other with the eablebranch B, and are suitably mounted in proximity to the draw-bridge upon 'thedrawbridge abutment, and are provided with any proper protecting-casing. A similar set of springs and connections is provided at the opposite side of the bridge, so that when the bridge is open the circuit A is through the springs O 0 on one side of the bridge to cable B, and thence to the continuation of the conductor A upon the opposite side of the bridge. Upon the draw bridge itself is a switch-plug, E, consisting of a block or plug of conducting material, firmly secured in such position that when the bridge is swung and closed aprojecting point of said block or plug will enter between the two springs G Giand force them apart. Upon one side of the plug is a piece of insulating material, as shown, which, when the plug is in position between the springs, rests against the spring 0 connected to the cable, and thus cuts off the latter from connection with the circuit A. The

metallic portion of the plug resting against the spring 0 establishes the circuit for the conductor A on the road-bed to and through the portion of said conductor A that is located upon the bridge itself. It is not necessary that the springs O 0 should be used at both sides of the draw-bridge, since it will be sufficientto break the circuit to the branch B at one side only. At the other, however, some provision should be made for automatically' similar to that employed at the other end of.

the bridge might be used. When the bridge is closed, the circuit of the conductor A is continuous across the bridge, the branch through B being broken. Therefore inductive communication with any car moving over the line of rails is'maintained at all times without interruption, whether said car be upon the bridge or not. If the bridge be open, so as to disconnect the portion of the circuit A located upon the bridge, the branch B completes the connection between the two sections of the conductor Aon the opposite sides of the bridge, and therefore leaves the main circuit intact for the purposes of communication between any trains or cars thereupon, or between a train or car and a fixed stationsuch as the train-dispatchers office.

The parts of the switch may be protected by any suitable casing or housing.

I do not of course limit myself to placing the conductor A between the rails, as it may be located at the side of the rails or upon posts, the locati n of the switch appliances a being determined b considerations of convenience.

Ido not limit myself to any particular construction of the switch appliances, and these may be varied in numberless ways by those skilled in the art, the essential being only that when the bridge is closed the branch B shall be broken and the circuit A continuous across the bridge, and that when the bridgeis open the branch B shall be substituted for the portion of the line of circuit A located upon the bridge.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, substantially as described, of a lineconductor between the rails, a draw-bridge,a branch,B, around the bridge, normally open, and a switch for establishing a circuit through said branch when the bridge is open, so as to disconnect the portion of the circuit located thereupon.

2. The combination,in a system of electrical communication between a moving vehicle and a fixed station,substantially such as described, of an induction line or conductor parallel to the path of the vehicle over said conductor, a draw-bridge over which the circuit is continued in continuous inductive relation to the apparatus upon the vehicle, a branch around said bridge, normally open, and an automatic switch for establishing the circuit through the branch when said circuit is broken by the movement of the bridge to open the same.

3. The combination, substantially as described, of the continuous induction-circuit A, a section or portion of which is located upon the draw-bridge, a cable, B, and a spring-jack switch,oneportion of which is upon the bridge and the other upon the bridge-abutment, all arranged as described, so that when the bridge is closed the circuit of the line-conductorA is continued across the bridge, while when the bridge is open the circuit of the conductor A is automatically established through the cable B.

4. The combination, substantially as described, of theline-conductor A, having asection located upon the draw-bridge D, a branch, B, normally disconnected from the circuit A, and a spring-jack switch whose plug is on one side faced with insulated material.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 19th day of February, A. D. 1885.

LUCIUS J. PHELPS.

WVitnesses:

THos. TooMEY, GEO. O. GOFFIN. 

